━━━━━━━━━▲━━━━━━━━━

"Mei, What the fuck! Tonight's the deadline for submitting your report. You still haven't completed it. JESUS! You know what? I am giving up," Vivian shook her head, in an attempt to shake the frustration off her head while Mei chuckled, aggressively typing the last page of her report.

"God has already given up on that piece of shit. I don't think it's necessary to freak out because she is the kind to smoke a vape the second before she receives her doctorate. Nevertheless, she'd submit before the deadline, don't worry," Hannah helped Vivian calm down.

"I must admit though, she never misses. Confidence is her bitch," Jackson admired Mei's last-minute chaotic on-time submissions while tossing a can of beer to Vivian. The room looked like a mess and even though Mei is a cleanliness freak, it was her least concern at the moment.

"I hope she misses her flight by a minute one day. I am jealous that she could always get away with that indolence," Vivian frowned, opening her can of beer. Hannah lied on the bed like a sloth, arms and legs stretched wide. She is known for being the one to finish up the load at once and enjoy the rest of her free time, lying in her paradise.

The Bed

"We are finally graduating. I am happy we finished it together. I never thought I could get past my high school and here we are, soon to have Dr. in our names. Though our smartypants, our Viper already has one," Jackson mouthed, his eyes focusing on the roof, his mind wandering through the book of memories they made.

"Good for you, Jackson. Even so, I still can't believe that you will be holding a doctorate in a few days. Never mind, how did you even get into Harvard?" Hannah asked, only to have her head smacked with a Squirtle plushie.

"He could verbally assault you and you'd never pop your head on this campus again. He literally finished his doctorate in The Classics. Be aware, you'd be attacked with the most classic chides," Mei piped in while she actively engaged in doing the last touches to her report.

"Alright, let's stop talking about him. There's nothing interesting anyway. What about you Vivian? Another degree? You said you wanted to apply for Romance Languages and Literature. I don't quite get the connection. Business Administration, Sociology and next, Literature?" Hannah asked and Vivian smiled.

"I just like to learn. I don't think I'll find a time where I find myself satisfied with the knowledge I have. There's always so much left unexplored, so much to know. I'd rather run for more than get married," Vivian stated as she took in large sips of her beer.

"I second that. Marriage is not my thing and my parents have been nagging about it ever since they knew about my graduation. What do they understand about how dry our life is out there?" Jackson jested, faking a whiny face.

"I am not interested in dating yet. The last time I dated, it was a disaster. I still haven't had closure from it. I can't even imagine how devastated I was, how I had to still finish my assignments and submit my research reports on time. I remember crying on my worksheets. Dating is nice and all but breaking up is the worst. Especially, when you invest time and feelings in a person, when you establish a future with someone. It just fucks up your entire system," Vivian confessed and Jackson walked to pull her into an embrace.

"That asshole doesn't deserve you. You should look out for some hot, tattooed dudes with sexy bikes. Handsome guys with classy cars are a problem," Jackson recommended and Hannah threw his plushie back at him.

"Are you talking about my fiance?" She rasped and we chuckled.

"Well, in my defense, Viper's ex had a car and looked classy as hell. Your fiance could be an exception. He promised to treat us every time we have Korean BBQ," Jackson admired Hannah's fiance for his generosity. Hannah just scoffed and gazed at her engagement ring.

"DONE AND DUSTED!!"

"Fuck studies! Imma enjoy shit now. Now tell me, are y'all shitting on marriage again?" Mei questioned, taking a comfortable seat on the floor while grabbing a pack of chips from Jackson's snack cabinet.

"You've got divorced twice. Shouldn't you be the one who should be doing the most?" Hannah asked as she got down on the floor, laying down while placing her head on Mei's thighs.

"I can't diss about my fucked up marriages. The alimony paid most of my tuition fees. Even so, I didn't lose faith. I just believe those two marriages did not happen at the right time. Good thing, my parents don't pressure me about marriage anymore," Mei just chuckled but everyone in the room knew how much she went through.

It was so hard on her and she couldn't hold it back every time she chugged down alcohol. Mei was the smartest person in the room. She could finish reading a whole research paper and summarize it within a day, without missing a point.

But her cuts are deeper and invisible to everyone's eyes. Marriage screwed up her life and she forgot to love herself, choose herself, trying to save her past marriages. She didn't hate her exes and they still talk to each other, but they just couldn't get the right balance over life, over themselves, confined to the so-called labeled relationship.

The Marriage

"I will just sort out my life and do what I want now. If I want to marry again, I will do it. If we are not meant to be, then we'll have to separate. If a person is ready to fall in love, then the person should also be ready to part ways. I've learned the greatest tip of life," Mei voiced out, munching on a chip.

"I don't think I am strong enough to reach a point where I could handle someone controlling my sanity. I had a trailer of what I could be when I got ignored, violated, and finally got ghosted. I am vulnerable to heartbreaks and hence, marriage is not my cup of tea," Vivian declared and Jackson showed a thumbs up in agreement with her.

"I just feel I need to date more before I could settle on an important relationship like that. Other than that, I don't have anything against it," Jackson continued with an affirming statement and the other three nodded.

"After we receive our doctoral degrees, let's just party at Barcelona and then y'all come to my place and help me with the wedding arrangements. I wanna flex to my locals that my friends are not as useless as they seem to be," Hannah said and Mei threw her head from her lap to the floor.

"Ouch, bitch!" Hannah winced and sat down properly.

"Jackson, please book the tickets and I swear, I want to go clubbing every day. I have worked my ass off every night here and this ass needs some you know?" Vivian winked and her roomies giggled.

"Poor Hannah, she can't get laid. We're gonna have so much fun," Mei pulled out her tongue and Jackson played along.

"Fuck you, peasants. I will have phone sex with my fiance. Go to hell with your one-night stands. Just don't get pregnant, don't get anyone pregnant," Hannah joked and the others in the room chuckled.

"I literally have my tubes tied. Jackson got his vasectomy done two years ago and Mei is on IUD. What are you even talking about?" Vivian chortled, resting her back on Jackson's muscular frame.

"By the way, I need to go to Seoul once before we plan on the Barcelona trip. Rose has her delivery due and she refuses to pop out that child if I won't be there with her. That baby better smile nicely at me," Vivian uttered and Jackson giggled.

"I can't believe your younger sister is having a child. It just feels weird that people younger than us are getting married, and having children. I admire that courage to take up all those responsibilities," Jackson mouthed and the others agreed.

"She literally grew up right in front of me and now she will be a mother. I can't believe we are so old now. I might soon get some silver hair," Vivian smiled, feeling emotional at how her sister is so good at being an adult and how she was perfect at taking up challenges and responsibilities.

"You didn't get them yet? I have some already," Mei showed the few gray hair strands and laughed to herself.

"I am going to visit Winter and Winnie tomorrow while I go for my morning walk. Will y'all come or decide to be pandas?" Vivian asked and the three thought for a while.

"Nah, I miss your babies and I am pretty sure they miss their aunt but then, my muscles will stop functioning if I do any physical exercise tomorrow. I need so much rest. I will be a panda," Mei denied the offer and Hannah smiled, her teeth wide open.

"I love Winter and Winnie and trust me, they are the best. But not tomorrow please, we just finished submitting the final reports today. I have mentally decided not to move any part of my body for another three days," Hannah excused herself and plopped on her bed.

"I'm not a fan of morning walks but then, I will come. I feel so jobless and can't stand Hannah's snoring so I will definitely accompany you," Jackson agreed and Vivian hugged him, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"This is why I love you," Vivian shouts and Jackson just smiles.

"Aww! I love you too bish"

┈┈┈┈■┈┈┈┈

Vivan Perez, infamously known as The Viper(ViPer), both by her admirers and enemies. She's known to actively participate in social issues and doesn't ever waver or take a step from her stance. She is a strong leader, a feminist icon, and diligently worked on LGBTQ rights.

Being a bisexual herself, she knew how hard it was to blend in with society. She tried a lot to get acceptance from people and eventually, she realized she doesn't need any of that as long as she loves herself and accepts herself as who she is.

She learned a lot by getting hurt, experiencing things, and opening herself to newer worlds. Never in her life, she thought it was enough. She just knows that there is so much more that she can learn and no one could stop her from achieving what she wanted.

Jackson, Mei, and Hannah happening to be her roommates was the best thing that happened to her life. She never expected herself to get so connected with anyone but the three people changed her life. They were fun, funky, weird, and most importantly respected Vivian and her opinions.

Currently, Vivian has a doctoral degree in Business Administration and will soon be receiving one in Sociology. She is the leader and an important member of several Student Unions and a perfect bitch to the Karens everywhere.

Vivian's family, even though, aren't happy about Vivian not prioritizing marriage in her life, they never barricaded her choices and let her make her own decisions. They tried to convince her to get married and continue pursuing her studies, but the girl was simply against the idea of the very deed.

The girl was not against dating. She had been through several dates with both women and men but whenever she couldn't manage time for herself and her academics, she called it quits. She never ghosted anyone though, she never gave hopes to someone and left them shattered. She was always the one to communicate what she wanted and was good at choosing people, her last relationship being an exception.

She wished she could move on, just like she always did but he couldn't be erased easily, no matter how much hard she tried to. She cursed him every day, she deleted all their pictures, she burnt his letters, she cried a river, and even tried therapy but nothing got her the closure she needed. At times, she refused to sleep because whenever she closed her eyes, his face appeared

He was beyond perfection, perhaps that's the very reason she could not know more of him before he vanished into thin air. She was ready for a long-term relationship with him, a commitment that she usually thinks about over a thousand times. But all her hopes crashed and she could never risk another heartbreak again.

┈┈┈┈■┈┈┈┈

"Oh My God! I genuinely hate the Dean but it feels like my dad is offering chocolate. I can't believe I am holding a doctoral degree now, bishes. Wow, this is another level of cocaine. Never knew I'd get so high with a piece of paper," Mei was yelling and jumping while her three friends hugged her in happiness.

"Oh trust me, I never saw our Dean smile like that till today. Anyways, we all got our degrees. Only Vivian is left. I am so excited for the cheers when they announce your name," Hannah claimed and Vivian just shrugged it off with a smile.

"Oh! Trust me, she got more cheers than the famous model from our college last time she received a degree. I've seen the video on our University's profile," Jackson said, immediately browsing through his phone for the saved video.

"Perks of being loved by all the students. If you had been in Korea, you would have a Fanclub already," Mei winked and Vivian shook her head in disbelief.

"I'll be honest. Korea is not really welcoming to a person like me. It took some time for my parents to wholly accept my sexuality. The society wouldn't even grace me with normal life there," Vivian expressed the difficulty of living in a country where homosexuality is not widely embraced.

"It's okay, babe. At least, I am happy you are among one the people who try to make this world a better place to live in. Cheers for that aspiration," Mei hugged Vivian and the latter smiled, happy with her present life.

"I think the Sociology Department will be called next. Are you ready to hold another doctorate degree, bitch?" Hannah asked and Vivian nodded in confidence.

"Yes, I am more ready than ever"

"I think your mom is calling," Jackson pointed at the phone that was on Vivian's seat. She put it on silent and didn't check the phone screen.

"My parents didn't come to attend my graduation with the excuse of being old. I will make them pay my travel expenses if they are going to give me a surprise now," Vivian declared and unlocked her screen only to find out more than 20 missed calls.

"What the fuck!"

"The Sociology Department will be called in a few minutes," The announcement echoed and Vivian looked at her friends.

"Get your degree first," Mei suggested.

"It could be an emergency. What if-" Hannah stopped between her lines and looked at Vivian.

"Hey! It could just be that they are calling you to congratulate you," Jackson comforted Vivian but Vivian didn't feel at peace, especially when her mom was calling again.

"Just answer the call and be quick, okay?" Mei uttered.

Vivian nodded and excused herself from the seating area, walking to a calmer and quieter place. She waited for a second to dial her mother but even before she could do it, her mom called again. Vivian's guts were sure it was something urgent.

"Eo Eomma," Vivian answered, quickly answering the call.

"Oh, Lord! I have been calling you and you have not answered for once," Vivian's mother spoke from the other side, her voice croaking and taking a few breaths in between.

"Eomma, why are you speaking like that? Are you crying?" Vivian asked, panicking.

"I am so sorry. I am... I am... I don't want to ruin your special day but...but they told..., they told they can't keep for long," Vivian's mother whimpered and Vivian couldn't understand anything even though it was freaking the shit out of her.

"Eomma, is Appa alright? Eomma, what's wrong?"

"Uhm-" Vivian could hear her mother breaking into loud tears and it broke her heart, listening to her wails.

But the next few words took away both her breath and life.

"Rose and the baby, both died"

━━━━━━━━━▼━━━━━━━━━

Author's Note: How was it?